Stamp-affixing machine



w. F. SCHWEIGER STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE Filed Oct. 11. 1924 INVENT0R1SIC/[wager Patented Get. 11, 1927.

1 UNITED ares PATENT WILLIAM F. SGHWEIGER, or Roon isrnie, NEW YORK,Assienon To MfinfxtosicioiaQ- PANY, INCORPORATED, on noormsrnn, NEWYORK, neon'ronn'rlon OFNEWXOBK'.

s'rnrrr'nrrixme MAcHIn'n.

Application filed October 11,1924. Serial No. 743301 7.

The invention relates to'astamn' affixing machine, and more particularlyto the class of machines involving a stamp strip in the form of a roll,strip feeding instrumentalities operated by a plunger that is depressedto successively feed the strip, sever the stamp, and afiix it to anenvelope, and a counting device that is controlledthrough downwardnrovement of the plunger.

The functionof the counting device is to inform the operator of thetotal number of stamps used, and this is accomplished'by recording thenumber of operations of the plunger, but the plunger may be operatedafter the stamp strip. is exhausted and the object ofthe invention is toafford mechanism that will automatically prevent operation of thecounting device after the stamp strip is exhausted.

"A further purposeof the invention to automatically lock the stripfeeding instrumentalities against movement, when the stamp strip isexhausted,thereby pre enting unnecessary wear and tear on the delicateparts of the machine, if the plunger is operated with no stamps in themachine.

Anadditional object of the improvement is to provide an arrangement.whereby the stamp strip feeding instrumentalities and the actuator forthe counting device are mounted u on the plunger and movable therewith wiile the stamp strip is feeding, but are automatically locked againstmovement when the stamp strip is exhausted, through the instrumentalityof a locking member that is held out of locking'position by the stampstrip and released when the latter is exhausted.

To these ends, the invention comprises the construction that will appearmore clearly from the following description when read in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawing,

the novel features being pointed out in the.

claims following the description.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a stamp affixing machine,illustrating the ap plication of a preferred embodiment of theinvention, and showing the parts in normal or uppermost position;

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the position of the parts when thestamp strip is exhausted and the plunger has been depressed;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the housing, and

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4 4- of Figure 2. V

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in which like referencecharacters throughout the several views indicate the same parts, 1indicates a housing and 2 the removable stamp roll containing chamberof- .the well known multipost machine, while 3 is a stamp strip whichpasses downwardly over the guide plate 4 the latter having "an openingor'recess 5 therein-for a purpose that will appear presently. l

6 designates the operating plunger having mounted thereon the usualstrip feeding, stamp severing, and stamp affixing instru mentalities.The stamp strip feeding instrum'entalitiesincludes fingers 7pivotallysupported on a carrier 8' that'is mounted upon the plunger 6and normally movable therewith. To this end, the carrier 8' includesarms 9 which embracethe plunger 6 while 10 is ball mounted in an openingin the plunger and engaging'a recess in the carrier, the carrier beingheld frictionally engaged with the plunger by means of the spring 11which holds the ball 10 in tight relationship to the carrier.

This arrangement permits a relative movement between the strip feedinginstrument-alities and the plunger in order to permit the latter to movedownwardly to sever and aflix the stamp, after the strip has been fed asufiicient distance to eject a stamp. The strip feedinginstrumentalities thus far described are shown in prior patents and formno part of the present invention, except in so far as they are combinedwith the mechanism now to be described. a

15 designates a counting device for indicating the number of stamps thatare used, and including a cam plate 16. The latter is controlled by anactuator, which comprises a pin 17 mounted upon a plate 18 whlch is apart of or fixedly connected to theafore mentioned carrier 8. With thisarrangement, when'the plunger 6 is depressed, car

abused. and correct counting of the stamps cannot be had.

To accomplish this, I employ means for automatically locking the stripfeeding instrumentalities and actuator against movement when the stampstrip is exhausted. This can be done in different ways, and one meansincludes a locking member or dog 19 mounted upon the carrier preferablyintermediate the feeding fingers 7, as shown in Figure 4,.and springpressed toward the stamp strip. The locking dog 19 is held in unlockingposition, as shown in Figure 1, by the stamp strip while the latter isfeeding past the, locking member, but upon exhaustion of the stampstrip, downward movement of theplunger 6 brings the dog 19 opposite Vto-the opening 5 in the guide plate 4, and the spring actuated dog thenenters the opening,

in the manner shown in Figure 2.

This looks the carrier 8 against downward movement so that no matter howmany times the plunger 6 may be thereafter operated, no

further downward movement of the carrier 8 with the strip feedingfingers'and counter actuator can be effected as long as there are nostamps in the machine and the counting device cannot register until afresh stamp roll is inserted.

While the invention has been disclosed with reference toja particularembodiment, it is not confined to the parts herein recited, and theimprovements may be adapted in bination with reciprocatory stamp' stripfeeding instrumentalities, and a reclprocatory plunger controlling thesame and operating to feeda stamp strip during its downward movement, acounting device,,an actuator for the countingdevice mounted on theplunger, and means carried by the plunger and acting automatically tolock the actuator against movement when the stamp strip is exhausted.

2. In a stamp affixing machine, the combination with a reciprocatoryplunger, of a carrier mounted on the plunger, stamp strip feedingfingers pivotally arranged on the carrier and acting to feed a stampstrip during downward movement of the plunger and carrier, a countingdevice, an actuator for the counting device mountedon the carrier, alocking member pivoted on the carrier, and a guideplate for the stampstrip having an opening toreceive the locking member and retain theactuator against movement when the stamp strip is exhausted. V

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

. WILLIAM F. SCHWEIGER.

